A total of 1,206 virtual balloons entered the race with Jay and eight-year-old Sadie’s balloon travelling a staggering 671 miles from St John’s Hospice, finishing just off the coast of Norway.

The inaugural race raised more than £4,000 for our Save Our Hospice Campaign to preserve St John’s for future generations.

Prizes also went to Holden’s Solicitors as the business to sell the most balloons, totalling 80 and Caton Community School for the most balloons per pupil. Ash Cartwright from Bolton-le-Sands primary school was the pupil to sell the most balloons with a total of 34.